DIY Reef Controller
- Thread starter nkd5024
- Start date
gandalfdgrey
New member
A video on the wiring of the LDDs will solve quite a few queries that have been posted on other related threads. Especially if you can show how to ground the PWM signals.
nkd5024
New member
I got 4 ldd-1000H drivers and two ldd-600H drivers for my strings of red/green/cyan leds.
They shipped out yesterday and will arrive on monday so I'll post a video of me setting them up. I do have two pcbs for the drivers but they are one of the original boards without the pull down resistors on the pwm lines so I'll have to rig something up for that.
I am hoping to find a nice box that I can store everything in so I don't have a big mess of stuff like I do with the ELN drivers.
They shipped out yesterday and will arrive on monday so I'll post a video of me setting them up. I do have two pcbs for the drivers but they are one of the original boards without the pull down resistors on the pwm lines so I'll have to rig something up for that.
I am hoping to find a nice box that I can store everything in so I don't have a big mess of stuff like I do with the ELN drivers.
nkd5024
New member
So I haven't posted many updates lately so here is how the firmware end is going. I am currently in the process of redoing the entire firmware. I start a while ago and finally had some time to work on it this week. The code size dropped pretty significantly and the organization of the code is 100% better.
Instead of one large file for the arduino mega and one for the atmega328, I now have each one separated into a few code files depending on the functions contained in them.
With this update I also kept in mind that people may want to edit the UI and add buttons/screens for hardware that they want to implement into the project themselves. Doing this will now be MUCH easier than before.
I currently am using one of the motherboards to alpha test the hardware/early firmware on my tank. So far everything is going well aside from accidentally plugging in a ds18b20 backwards which destroyed it.
I am also throwing around an idea of having a setup screen when you first turn on the controller to allow the user to tell the controller how many outlets they are using and if the relays on active high or low. how many temp sensors, etc.
Instead of one large file for the arduino mega and one for the atmega328, I now have each one separated into a few code files depending on the functions contained in them.
With this update I also kept in mind that people may want to edit the UI and add buttons/screens for hardware that they want to implement into the project themselves. Doing this will now be MUCH easier than before.
I currently am using one of the motherboards to alpha test the hardware/early firmware on my tank. So far everything is going well aside from accidentally plugging in a ds18b20 backwards which destroyed it.
I am also throwing around an idea of having a setup screen when you first turn on the controller to allow the user to tell the controller how many outlets they are using and if the relays on active high or low. how many temp sensors, etc.
mameroo2000
Member
Wow
nkd5024
New member
Apparently online components upgraded my shipping to two day as I received my LDDs and power supply last night!
I just soldered up the boards I had lying around (one of Rrasco's first boards without the pull down resistors) and am now connecting everything to the power supply and leds. I took some footage and will post a video in a bit once I have everything running. Hopefully it doesn't turn out to bad.
I just soldered up the boards I had lying around (one of Rrasco's first boards without the pull down resistors) and am now connecting everything to the power supply and leds. I took some footage and will post a video in a bit once I have everything running. Hopefully it doesn't turn out to bad.
nkd5024
New member
So I just spent today setting up the LDD drivers to replace my ELN-60-48s. I decided to house the power supply and the ldd drivers in an old metal halide ballast casing.
I was unable to get the pull down resistors to work correctly by scratching away at the ground plane but realized that it really doesn't matter to me if they run at 1000mA until I notice. I haven't completed the entire thing as I ran out of wire for the moonlights so I will hold off on posting any videos of the controller running the leds until I get them up and running as well.
I did take some video but it didn't turn out so well so instead I will draw some photos shows on to correctly wire everything together.
I was unable to get the pull down resistors to work correctly by scratching away at the ground plane but realized that it really doesn't matter to me if they run at 1000mA until I notice. I haven't completed the entire thing as I ran out of wire for the moonlights so I will hold off on posting any videos of the controller running the leds until I get them up and running as well.
I did take some video but it didn't turn out so well so instead I will draw some photos shows on to correctly wire everything together.
Actually I find them as reliable as my aquamedic quad ...not sure if that is a praise to the chinese pumps or a knock to my aquamedic...
Illinoisplumber
New member
How are the leds going nick? Do you have a link to a board for the LDD drivers?
nkd5024
New member
I am using the board designed by rrasco from the LDD specific thread. Either rrasco's or O2surpluss's board will work fine I will post a few pictures of my build later today. I basically just put everything into an old metal halide ballast case and am using din5 connectors to dim the meanwells.
The PCBs also just arrived in the mail so i'll post some pictures of them as well. I'll try to get started on the soldering so I can send them out asap.
The PCBs also just arrived in the mail so i'll post some pictures of them as well. I'll try to get started on the soldering so I can send them out asap.
Dear Nick,
Please stop doing such an amazing job on this project and making it easier for me to just use your code instead of actually teaching myself how to program.
Thanks,
Will
I haven't read anything from this thread since about December and it looks like you have made fantastic progress. I was really hoping to use this type of project as a way to actually learn programming but you are making it far too easy to just skip it haha.
I'm sure I'll be sending you an email about boards when you do another order.
Seriously, great job and its fantastic how you're helping everyone out.
Please stop doing such an amazing job on this project and making it easier for me to just use your code instead of actually teaching myself how to program.
Thanks,
Will
I haven't read anything from this thread since about December and it looks like you have made fantastic progress. I was really hoping to use this type of project as a way to actually learn programming but you are making it far too easy to just skip it haha.
I'm sure I'll be sending you an email about boards when you do another order.
Seriously, great job and its fantastic how you're helping everyone out.
WSPepsilon
New member
This is by far one of the most amazing open source projects out there for reefing. Can't wait to take part myself.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 2
nkd5024
New member
I just finished soldering all the pressure sensor boards!
I decided to solder the pressure sensor board for everyone who ordered one as the legs on the sensors are extremely fragile to being bent. Most of them came bent all sorts of ways and I didn't want to risk shipping them and having the pin break.
I decided to solder the pressure sensor board for everyone who ordered one as the legs on the sensors are extremely fragile to being bent. Most of them came bent all sorts of ways and I didn't want to risk shipping them and having the pin break.
nkd5024
New member
The new differential pressure sensors have a smaller input size so I had to buy special tubing to fit them. I could only find it in 25 feet pieces but here the link.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FP0JOC/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Anyone who has contributed to the project already will get around 5 feet of the tubing with their boards as I have like 20 feet of spare tubing.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FP0JOC/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Anyone who has contributed to the project already will get around 5 feet of the tubing with their boards as I have like 20 feet of spare tubing.
